Norwich loanee Gassan Ahadme missing but former triallist returns for Portsmouth friendly with Peterborough

And triallists dominate Pompey’s bench, including Dan Gyollai, Louis Thompson – and returning triallist Layton Ndukwu, who had previously left.

Fratton Park will entertain its biggest crowd since March 2020 for this afternoon’s visit of Peterborough.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, a week before the season’s start at Fleetwood, the Blues are again worryingly reliant on triallists to bolster squad numbers.

Danny Cowley’s starting XI includes new boys Kieron Freeman, Clark Robertson, Shaun Williams and Ryan Tunnicliffe.

Although eight-goal scorer Ahadme isn’t involved, while goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu is also not featured the the match-day squad.

The reasons for Ahadme’s absence have yet to be made clear and no doubt will become apparent later on.

Also apparently not around are Ellis Harrison and Haji Mnoga, who both played at Chelsea under-23s on Tuesday night.

Pompey: Bass, Freeman, Robertson, Raggett, Brown, Williams, Tunnicliffe, Hackett-Fairchild, Curtis, Harness, Marquis.

Subs: Gyollai, Jacobs, Layton Ndukwu, Louis Thompson, triallists.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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